Toy railroad track



Nov. 16 1926.

J. COOPER TOY RAILROAD TRACK 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Marchy 26, 1926 Ul.mi

Wo MMU .lwN QN w l Ww i Uf wN NQ Q .//QHT Mm Nov. 16 1926. Y 1,607,337J. COPER TOY RAILROAD TRACK Filed March 26, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Noe--H Patented Nov. 16, 1926A.

UNITED STATES JOHN COOPER, OF EVANS'ION, ILLINOIS.

TOY RAILROAD TRACK.

Application filed March 26, 1926. Serial No. 97,718.

This invention relates to improvements in track systems of toyrailroads, the general object of the invention being to provide acrossing whereby a train can pass from one track to a second track whengoing in either direction so as to make a toy track switch operatesimilar to the real railroad switches.

Another object of the invention is to make the crossing or switchcompact so that the two tracks can be placed close together.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple means foroperating the switch means.

This invention also consists in certain other features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1is a plan view of the improved crossing or switch.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure Figure 1.

In these views, 1 indicates a base which is formed with theusualflanges'2 which are adapted to rest upon a floor or other support tohold the base spaced from said support. This base is adapted to beplaced between portions of the trackr supporting means of the :railroadat a point where the switch or crossing is desired to be located. Theouter rail of track A is shown at 3 and the outer rail of track B isshown at 3', these rails being held to the base by the tongues 4 whichare struck up from the base.

A pair of convergent rails 5 is carried by the base at each end thereof,the rails being slightly curved'and abutting against a point 6 on thebase. One of these rails 5 abuts the inner rail of the track A, whilethe other rail of each pair abuts the inner rail of the track B. A Aswitch member C is placed at each end of the track portions A and B onthe base and each member comprises the straight rail or tongue 7, thecurved tongue or rail 8 and the base 9 to which the rails 4 is a sectionon line 4 4 of are connected. Each member C is pivoted to the baseintermediate its ends, as shown at 10. Triangular plates 4or points 11are carried by the base, with their bases forming portions of the innerrails of the tracks A and B. These points 11 are adapted to be engagedby the inner ends of the members C. Each third rail 12 of the tracks Aand B is formed with an enlarged'portion 13 which is located over'eachmember C and these enlarged portions of each track are connected byv thedepending parts 14 with a straight central part 15 which is insulatedfrom the base, as shown at 16. Each depending part 14 passes under thecurved tongue of each member 0.?

Four rotary disks 17, formed of insulating material, are carriedl byVthe central part of the base `and each disk supports a rail section 18,the ends of which are `beveled. EachI disk is connected with the innerend of a member C by a link 19' so that the disk will be partly rotatedby the movement of the member C. v

A slightly conical disk 2O is carried by the central part of the baseand is insulated from the base by the insulation 21 and said disk iselectrically connected with one of thecurved rails by meansof theconductor 22.' rThe rail' f sections are so arranged with respect tothis disk that when they Vare moved to a certain position, their innerends will contact with the disk and thus they will receive a portion ofthe current passing through the third rail. By makingl the disk with asloping upper face, Contact is insured between the disk and railsections. V

The base is provided with a pair of eX- tensions 1 at one side thereof,an extension being arranged adjacent each end of the base and eachextension supports a switch operating member which comprises a` disk 23rotatably supported and having a handle 24 thereon by which it can bemoved and this disk is connected by a link 25 with the switch member Cnearest to it. A link 26 connects the link 25 with lever 27' which ispivoted at its center to the center of the base, as shown at 28, thepivotal point being below the center of the disk 2O and the other end ofsaid lever 27 is connected by a. link 29 with the switch member C of theother track and at the far end of the base.

From the foregoing it will Vbe seen that when the switch operating meansat the right hand side of the device is operated, the link 25 will rockthe member C at the right hand end of track B until its curved railstrikes the point 11, and this movement will rock the lever 27 and causeit, through means oi the link 29, to shift the memberI C at the tar endot tra-ck ik in a similar manner so that it will engage the other point11. A pair of track sections 18 will bridge the points 11 and 6, whilethe other pair ot track sections will have been moved by the movementor' the members C as just eX- plained into a posit-ion where they willalign with each other and will be located at the center ot the tracktormed by the other sections and thus form part oit the third rail. 1twill be noted that the inner ends ot the aligned sections will engagethe disk 20 so that they will receive current therefrom. in thisposition ot the parts, a train can pass from track B on to track A andvice versa, the wheels ot the train passing along the curved rail 8 ofsection B and one ot the rails 5 across the rail forming sections 18,the points G and 11 on to the curved tongue of the other member C andthe other rail 5. By turning the lever 2st in an opposite direction, theswitch members at the right ot track B and the lett of tr ck A will bemoved to a position similar to that occupied by the other switch membersso that a train can pass over each track wit-hout leaving the same. Thenby operating the other swi'ch actuating means, the switch members C atthe lett oit track B and the right ot track A will be moved to aposition where train moving to the right can pass from track B on totrack or a train moving to the lett on track fr can pass to track B.

1t will thus be seen that 1 have provided an eight way crossing which isvery compact and which permits the two tracks to be placed closetogether. Two ot the track sections 18 will serve as wheel engagingmeinbers, while the other two serve as conductors. This invention makesthe toy railroad similar to the real railroads. r1`he switches areeasily operated. l

it is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

lt desire it to be understood that 1 may make changes in theconstruction and in the combination and arrangement ot the severalparts, provided that such changes fall within the scope ot the appendedclaims.

l/Vhat 1 claim is 1. 1n a double track toy railway, a section comprisinga support, outer rails ot t tracks thereon. a pair ot converging ,ils ateach end ot the support, said converging rails forming the inner railsot the two tracks, switch members pivotally connected with the supportand arranged at the ends of the track sections, each member comprising abase, a straight rail and a curved rail,

four rotary disks inthe support, 'means for rotating the disks by themovement or" thev switch members, a short rail section carried by eachdisk, a pair of stationary points on the support, the space betweenwhich and the inner ends of the converging rails is bridged by two ofthe rail sections, means for supplying current to the other railsections which torm portions of the third rail and manuallyoperatedineans for adjusting the switch members.

2. 1n a double track toy railroad, a track section comprising a. base,outer rails of the two tracks carried thereby, a pair ot convergingrails at each end of the base torming the inner rails oit the tracks, apoint on the base at the inner end of each pair ot convergent rails, athird rail for each track on the section, each third rail having a pair0i flattened portions, switch members pivotally supported on the base,one at each end of each track, each member1 comprising a base, a.straight rail and a curved rail, four rotary disks carried `by the base,a link connecting each disk with a switch member so that the rockingmovement of the member will partially rotate the disk, a central disk,means tor connectingthe `same with one ot the third rails, a railsection carried by each disk, a pair ot triangular members .on the base,the bases of which form portions ot the inner rails of the tracks, twoof the rail sections bridging the spaces between the triangular platesand the points of the convergent rails while the lother two are inalignment and contact with thel center ldisk to form partoi a thirdrail, a pair of manualb7 operated members, a link connecting each memberto the switch member which is closest to it, a pair or" rocking leverspivotally supported at their centers and links connecting each leverwith a pair oitl switch members which are diagonally opposite eachother.

3. A track section tor a double track toy railway comprising a base, apair oit tracks thereon, each track comprising a straight outer rail anda pair oit curved inner rails, each inner rail converging to a pointwith an inner rail ot the other track, stationary members on the basehaving` portions torming parts ot' the inner rails, four rail sections,two bridging the spaces between the inner ends oi' the curved rails andthe stationary members, while the other pair align themselves betweenthe other two and form parts ot the conducting means, a pivoted switchmember at each end ot' each track, each member including an outer railand an inner rail, means for actuating the switch members and means formoving the rail sections by the. movement of the switch mem.- bers.

1n testimony whereof 1 a'lx my signature.

JOHN COOPER.

